Com bin ati on-padlock



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. KAUPFELD.

COMBINATION PADLOGK'.

.N0. 367,048. YPatented July 26, 1887.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-sheen 2. E. KAUFFELD.

COMBINATION PADLOGK.

No. 367,048. Patented July 26, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIAS KAUFFELD, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINATION-PADLCCK.

SPEGI'EGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,048I dated July 26, 1887.

Serial No, 236,417.

(No model.)

Tol all when. it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELL-xs KAUFFELD, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combination-Padlocks; and I do hereby declare the'following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an improvement in combination-padloeks,and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a side view of the padlock. Fig. 2 is a vertical cent-ral'seetion thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section on the line` x m of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal crosssection on the line y y of Fig. 2. f Fig. 5is a plan view of one of the outer rings, and Fig. 6 is a vertical crosssection ofthesaine. Fig. 7 is a plan view of one of theinnerl rings, and Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section of the same. Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-seetion ofthe top inner ring.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.

In the drawings, 2 represents the outer case of the lock, which consists of a cylindrical metal shell. Vithin this shell are a number of loose rings, 3, nesting upon each other and each having an inwardly-projecting flange, b. Seated on the iiange b of these outer rings, 3, areinner rings, 4, preferably L-shaped in crossseetion. Each inner ring, 4, has cut in its horizontal part a slot or notch, 5, which, when all are in line with each other, affords a eontinuous vertical hole or passage for one leg, 6,

of the hasp of the padlock. number of notches or slots, 7, arranged to register in position with the horizontal portions of the inner ring, 4, when the hasp is set in the lock. The outer rings, 3, are graduated into a number of divisions, which are numbered or lettered, or both, in any suitable way-say aecording to the letters of the alphabet-and at the position of each letter the flange b of" the ring is provided with apin-hole, c, Fig. 5. At a line, say, ninety degrees from the position ofthe leg 6 of the hasp, the ease 2 has a vertical slot, 8, which exposes the lettering on the outer sides of the rings 8 as the rings are turned around in the case to bring the letters opposite to the slot, and at the same are of ninety degrees from the slot 5 each inner ring, 4, has a pin, d, made in its horizontal part: The shorter leg9 of the hasp has in its side two This leg 6 has a notches, 7, made to engage the horizontal iianges of the uppermost ring 4, which for this purpose is made of U form in crosssection, and has two of these flanges, though this is not necessary. The flanges ofthis top ring have slots 5, made diametrically opposite to the slots 5 of the same ring. -The top ofthe ease is Covered by a screw-cap, l0, having two holes for the passage ofthe legs 6 and 9 ofthe staple.

In the drawings I show the lock having eight of the inner rings, 4. This permits a combination composed ofeighteharacters. Suppose it is desired to set the parts of' the look so that the combination shall be represented by the word seeurityjf the top ring of the inner series of rings, 4, is moved until its pin d registers with the pin-hole c at the mark S of that ring, and the pin is put through that hole to confine the rings together. The second ring 4 is fixed to its seat-ring 3 by a pin, d, which pa-sses through one of the holes c in the ring 3, which is at the mark E. So the third rings are pinned together at the mark C, the fourth rings at U, the fifth rings -at R, the sixth rings at I, the seventh rings at T, and the eighth rings at Y. Now, if all these rings so joined together be moved relatively to each other, so that these letters,forming the word seeurity, shall be in the same vertical linesayin front of the slot S-the slots 5 will also be in line with each other, because, as stated above, these slots are all equidistant from the pins d. Vhen the slots 5 are thus in line, the staple can be drawn out ofthe padlock-case and the padlock is said to be unlocked. If, however, the rings be turned within the ease so that the letters named shall not be opposite the slot 8, the staple cannot be withdrawn, for the notches 7 of the leg G will engage the rings 4, and until all the letters are again brought in their proper order before the slot 8 the slots 5 will not coincide andthe staple cannot be withdrawn. The rings are thus turned by means ofa knife-blade or any other instrument inserted through the opening 8 in the case. The periphery of the outer rings, 3, extends below the flange b, forming a downward liange, and has in it an annular groove at the top, into which the downward flange ofthe ring above lits snugly. No instrument can thus be in serted between the rings, nor can the position of the pin d, connecting the inner and outer IOO rings, be ascertained. It is this feature of the lock which distinguishes it from prior devices, and it is in this that my invention consists.

It is practically impossible that the lock should be opened by any one unfamiliar with the combination, because each ring is capable yof as many different adjustments as there are characters on it, (twenty-six in thc arrangement above described,) and these characters may be arranged to form a very large number of different combinations of eight letters each. Of course the number of characters on the rings ymay be varied, and the number of rings may be more or less than I have shown; butin all cases it is necessary to preserve the same principle of employing slotted rings having characters set or adapted to be set at deterv mined distances Afrom the slots equal tothe distance between the opening S and the position of the hasp, so that when the proper characters are brought in front of the openingSall the slots in the rings shall register and at'iord an unobstructed passage ofthe leg of the staple.

Equivalent mechanism may be substituted in place of the pins d to adjustably confine the rings 3 and 4 together, and the forni of the opening 8, whose function is to afford a mark for the desired characters of the combination, may also be changed.

In order to prevent unscrewing of the cap l0, I show two devices in the drawings, either or both of which may be employed. These consist oftwo rods, 1l, which extend across the inside of the case 2, between which the legs of the staple pass, and a socket, 12, at the bottom of the case, into which the leg 6 fits. Either of these devices will prevent theturning of the staple, and consequently the turning of the screw-cap.

In a padlock, the eombinatiomwith the case and a staple, of outer rotary L-Shaped rings set in the case, having downwardlyextending flanges, corresponding grooves on their peripheries, and inwardlyextending anges b, inner rotary L-sl1aped rings, 4, adapted to fit within the outer rotary rings and to rest on said flanges b thereof, and pins whereby the outer and inner rings are locked together, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of April, A. D. 1887.

ELIAS KAUFFELD.

XVitnesses:

W. B. CoRwr'N, TrroivrAs W, BAKEWELL. 

